Boxborough Special Town Meeting: What passed, what didn't

Matt Mallio @actonbeacon

Tuesday

May 14, 2019 at 3:09 PMMay 14, 2019 at 3:09 PM

Just four out of the 11 warrant articles discussed at Monday evening's Special Town Meeting passed.

The Special Town Meeting, which was held at the Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough, only discussed zoning bylaw amendments having to do with the regulation of recreational marijuana in the town of Boxborough. The articles were created and voted upon to give the Town of Boxborough better, more clear protection than a general bylaw prohibiting recreational marijuana establishments (RME's) passed last September, according to officials.

Chair of the Boxborough Planning Board Abby Reip explained the warrant articles that residents would consider, what they would do if passed, and whether or not town officials recommended them.

Article content

The first article, said Reip, defined all of the various recreational marijuana businesses -- retail, manufacturing, cultivating -- and some terminology like host community agreement. The Planning Board and Finance Committee recommended this article.

Articles 2-8 defined various marijuana businesses and some terminology. The businesses defined included craft marijuana cultivator cooperative, marijuana cultivators, recreational marijuana establishments, marijuana product manufacturers, marijuana research facilities, marijuana research facilities, marijuana retailers and marijuana testing facilities. The Planning Board said it was not in favor or opposed to articles 2-8, and said the voters should decide. The majority of the Finance Committee mostly did not recommend any of the above businesses, except marijuana research facilities.

Article 9 established a tax on recreational marijuana retailers should they someday be allowed in town. Article 10 established an overlay district on the southwest industrial and commercial district, and northeast in the office park district, both near highways. These would be the areas of the town where RME's, should they somehow be allowed in town, would be located. "This is one of the most important pieces of the zoning bylaw," said Reip.

Article 11, Reip said, was a "summary vote" that would take the uses that were not approved would be listed in the bylaw as prohibited.

Articles 1, 9, 10 and 11 all passed.

No businesses approved

None of the seven defined businesses received the necessary two-thirds vote to be approved — the opinions for and against mirrored arguments in previous hearings and Town Meetings. Opponents of recreational marijuana establishments said potential environmental, health, safety issues, and safety risks as well as a potential strain on town services and damage to property values outweighed any potential benefits.

Ballot vote

There are two questions on the ballot for the upcoming May 21 elections. Question 1 asks voters to adopt the general bylaw banning recreational marijuana establishments approved by voters at the September 2018 Special Town Meeting. Question 2 asks voters to pass the zoning bylaws approved at Monday evening's Special Town Meeting.

Town Meeting is scheduled to run this Tuesday and Thursday evening, May 14 and May 16, starting at 7 p.m.